Internet Access For Workers

A US union has convinced the Ford Motor Co. to offer its
350,000 workers worldwide, a home computer, colour printer
and Internet access, for $5 a month. John Howard
reports.

Beginning in April, the offer is one of the
largest efforts by a company to equip its workers with
computers.

"This program keeps Ford Motor Company and our
worldwide team at the leading edge of e-business technology
and skills," said Ford president and CEO, Jac Nasser.

The
deal, coordinated by PeoplePC Inc. requires monthly payments
of $5 for three years or just $180 total.

Hewlett-Packard
will build the computers and printers while Internet access
will be provided by UUNET, an MCI WorldCom company.

Ford
employees will not have to pay the shipping costs and the
taxes that regular customers pick up. And they will be able
to upgrade with things like CD recorders and DVD drives at
their own expense.

United Auto Workers president, Stephen
Yokich, said the idea of giving workers computers had been
raised during negotiations for a new labour contract last
year.

"It's something we talked about at the bargaining
table and it's something that we worked hard on," Yokich
said.

The union represents about 100,000 Ford workers in
the US. Ford has about 100,000 salaried employees worldwide,
and another 150,000 hourly employees outside the US.

"All
our people are very excited about it," Ford worker Mike
McCain said. "This will include everybody. The have-nots
will be a little more equal than the haves."

The union
believes other car makers are likely to follow Ford's
lead.

Meanwhile, President Clinton wants to expand
computer access to low income families and has proposed a $2
billion plan to help low-income families gain access to
computers and the world wide web.

"It would be tragic if
this instrument that has done more to break down barriers
between people than anything in all of human history built a
new wall because not everybody had access to it," Clinton
said.

" Our big goal should be to make connection to the
Internet as common as connection to telephone is today." he
said.

President Clinton's plan has widespread political
support and will succeed on that basis.

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